"Don't be afraid. I'm here."
"Don't come any closer, do you hear me?"
Yamamoto Takeshi stood in front of the girls, weapon in hand, and shouted.
He was a boy, but even so, facing this unknown monster, he was still a little scared. His legs trembled slightly.
Uchiha Matsuzaki had already reached their vicinity, and happened to see this scene.
"Yamamoto, protect them. I'll deal with this monster."
Uchiha Matsuzaki shouted to Yamamoto Takeshi and the others.
When the four of them heard Uchiha Matsuzaki's voice, they weren't as afraid anymore. After all, the strongest person in their group had returned.
Uchiha Matsuzaki gripped his sword with both hands and slowly approached the monster.
Only then did he get a clear look at what the monster actually looked like. He couldn't help shuddering; the creature was truly terrifying.
"Disgusting. Judging by the color of your body, that black liquid from earlier must have been yours."
Uchiha Matsuzaki said to the monster.
"Giggigig..."
The grotesque-faced monster stood where it was, making a giggling sound.
It was almost as if it were taunting him.
Suddenly, the monster accelerated and charged toward Uchiha Matsuzaki, moving incredibly fast.
"So fast!"
When Uchiha Matsuzaki realized something was wrong, he immediately activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
But to his utter surprise, the Sharingan only made the monster seem half as fast.
Thud!
The monster threw a heavy punch at Uchiha Matsuzaki, but he blocked it in time, and its fist struck his sword.
Even so, Uchiha Matsuzaki was sent flying several meters backward.
"Damn it. This guy's strength is probably no weaker than Kage Level..."
Uchiha Matsuzaki steadied himself and watched the monster, speaking under his breath.
The other four didn't dare act rashly either. They were simply too weak; if they joined the fight, they would only get in the way.
This time, Uchiha Matsuzaki didn't wait for the monster to attack. He took the initiative.
He charged at the monster at his top speed. The instant he reached it, the sword in his hand cut off one of its arms.
"Great!"
The four of them exclaimed happily when they saw Uchiha Matsuzaki cut off the monster's arm.
Uchiha Matsuzaki smiled too, but what he saw next sent him into despair!
The monster stood still as its severed arm slowly melted into a mass of thick, black liquid.
Then a new arm grew from the place where its body had been severed.
"What the... is this thing regenerating?"
Uchiha Matsuzaki furrowed his brow, stared at the unharmed monster, and swore.
The other four were just as dumbfounded. They had never seen anything like this.
After its arm had grown back, the monster slowly turned to face Uchiha Matsuzaki and suddenly grinned.
Uchiha Matsuzaki shuddered at the sight.
"Even if you can regenerate, let's see if things stay the same after I cut off your head."
Uchiha Matsuzaki picked up his sword again, fixed his gaze on the monster, and prepared to attack once more.
This time, he planned to cut off the monster's head.
Before you continue